Folded packaging tray blank and tray



Jan. 28 1958 R. A. sAMslNG FQLDED -PACKAGING TRAY `BLANK AND. TRAY Filed Nov, so, 195e v1.1.. w11. NWI,...

United States Patent O 2,821,336 FOLDED PACKAGING TRAY BLANK AND TRAY Rolf A. Samsing, Braintree, Mass. Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,312 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-42) This invention relates to paperboard trays and more particularly to a novel compartmental tray for packaging cookies and like products within a cellophane wrapped package. My improved tray is made from strip paperboard stock merely by stamping blanks therefrom, with no loss of material, and a simple folding of the blanks to produce dat folded tray blanks. The at folded tray blanks can be conveniently and compactly stacked for shipping and storing and are adapted to be set up in use merely by a simple lifting and joining movement. The production of a novel folded tray blank and tray embodying these features comprises a primary object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank as stamped from a strip of paperboard stock,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank folded to flat tray blank form,

Fig. 3 is a perspective-view of the tray in set-up position,

Fig. 4 is an end view of the tray iilled with packaged products and enclosed within a cellophane wrapper,

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation.

In the drawing 10 indicates a paperboard strip from which blanks 12 comprising my invention are stamped. The blank 12 includes the full width of the strip and is cut therefrom along a severing line 14. The blank is scored and cut along two spaced parallel lines 16 providing a bottom panel 18 therebetween and two side panels 20 and 22. The side panel 20 extends a predetermined distance beyond one end of the panel 18 at 24 and the side panel 22 extends a like distance beyond the other end of the panel 18 at 26.

The side panels 20 and 22 are cut along discontinuous lines 28 and 30 to form a plurality of tabs 32 and 33 and leaving each tab integral with the panel 18 at the fold line 16 and with its side panel 20 or 22 at 34. The tabs are arranged in pairs in which as illustrated three tabs 32 cut from the panel 20 cooperate respectively with three tabs 33 cut from the panel 22. The blank as thus prepared is folded on the score lines 16 with the side panels 20 and 22 in overlapping contact with the panel 18 as illustrated in Fig. 2. As thus folded the blanks can be conveniently and compactly stacked for shipping and storing.

When the folded blank is to be used, the two side panels 20 and 22 are raised and moved longitudinally to bring their extended ends 24 and 26 inwardly of the adjacent ends of the panel 18. Such movement automatically swings the tabs 32 and 33 to a position disposed transversely of the panel 18. Each panel 20 and 22 tends resiliently to move longitudinally back to its original position and when the tabs 32 and 33 are placed behind each other this resiliency automatically holds the cooperating tabs in face to face Contact. Each two cooperating tabs 32 and 33 overlap at their inner portions and together provide a partition extending transversely across the panel 18 and each tab is of a length to extend in interlocked engagement with and beneath the Patented Jan. 28, 1958 ice opposite panel 20 or 22 as illustrated in Figs. 3-5. It will be noted that the tabs 32 are integral with the panel 18 in one direction along its margin as indicated at 36 and the tabs 33 are integral therewith in the opposite direction as indicated at 38.

The tray is adapted to be filled with groups of cookies or the like in the tray compartments as illustrated in broken lines 40 and the tilled tray is then placed within a plastic bag 42 and sealed at one end 44. Attention is called to the fact that the partitions 32-33 and panels 20 and 22 firmly support the groups of products 40 and provide a substantial support against any crushing action from above.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A folded tray blank formed from a one-piece paperboard sheet scored and cut along two spaced and parallel lines providing a rectangular body panel therebetween and two rectangular side panels integral with the sheet at said lines, the side panels being substantially equal in length and width and one side panel extending a predetermined distance beyond one end of the body panel and the other side panel extending a like distance beyond the other end of the body panel, the side panels being folded on said scored lines into overlapping contact with one face of the body panel and having a plurality of pairs of cooperating tabs cut therefrom along discontinuous lines leaving each tab integrally connected to the body panel along one of said scored lines at one marginal portion of the tab and to its side panel along a further scored line at another marginal portion of the tab, each tab being further scored along a third line rightangular to and intersecting one of the first named scored lines directly adjacent thereto, said scored lines permitting pivotal movement of the side panels to spaced upright position longitudinally of and coextensive with and above said face of the body panel and said pairs of tabs to spaced upright position transversely of the body panel and above said face with each tab of one side panel in overlapping face contact with and rearwardly of the companion tab of the other panel and with the free end of each tab disposed in interlocked relation beneath the other side panel.

2. A compartmental tray formed from the blank delined in claim 1 and comprising a rectangular bottom wall, a plurality of relatively spaced and upright partitions extending transversely across one face of the bottom wall, each of said partitions comprising two overlapping tabs respectively integral with opposite margins of the bottom wall, and two spaced parallel panels extending upright longitudinally of said face above said partitions and respectively integral with the tabs therebeneath, the free end portion of each tab being disposed in interlocked relation beneath the oppositely disposed panel.

3. The tray dened in claim 2 in which said tabs disposed along one side of the tray are integral with the adjacent longitudinal margin of the bottom wall for a predetermined distance in one direction therealong from the partition and the tabs disposed along the other side of the tray are rintegral with the adjacent longitudinal margin of the bottom wall for a predetermined distance in the other direction from the partition.

4. The tray defined in claim 2 in which the two tabs of each partition are held in face to face contact by the opposed resilient forces of said two side panels tending to return such panels to original position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,697,547 Wagonseller Dec. 21, 1954 

